Casting machine



Feb. 12; 1924- 'L483,550

A. W. MORRIS QASTING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 31, 1919 10 sheets-shew 1 INVENTOR @i Z WMZW ATTORNEY-5.

Feb. 12, 1924; 1,483,555

A. W. MORRIS CASTING MACHINE Fild Dec. 31. 1919 10 Sheets-Shem s J wzmow MTTURMEIW.

' Feb. 12, 1924.- 1,483,550

RRIS JINVENTOR Ea; M

ATroRNEm Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,550 A. w. nonma- CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51.. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,550

A. w. mams CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1919 I0 Sheets- Snqet jZa/d I i 1%. m, 19% 4 1,483,550 AJW; MORRIS CAfiTINGr MACHINE Filed lbw. '31", 1919- 10 Shasta-Sheet V INVENTOR BY? IV? 7 Feb. 12,1924.' 1,483,550 A. w. MORRl-S CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec 51.1919 1o Shee m ENTOR I I BY $211.. 2.

ATI'OPNEYB.

FEB; 12 1924? 1,483,550

A. W.. MORRflS CASTING MACHINE I A M ATTORNEYS.

Mi q; l L 3 07 e D/ d e l Patented Feb. 122, 1924i.

barren STATES PATENT ori ice.

ALBERT W. WIDE/HIS, 013 SPRINGFIELD, MLAS$ACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO KENNETH "W. MGNEIL, OF BRIDGEIPOR'IP, CONNECTICUT.

CASTING Macnrnn.

Application filed December 31, 1919. Serial NioQBtfifiSE.

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. Monnls, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved ma chine :lfor casting articles in dies or molds under pressure. While the machine is generally used for casting the various metals, alloys and compositions, it is not limited to such use and may be used, if desired, for

casting various other molten substances or substance to be cast, the metal or other substance therein placed under pressure and then discharged into the mold, and the reverse operations accomplished all automatically in properly timed and coordinated relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatically controlled fluid pressure means for effecting the various operations described.

Another object ofthe invention is toprovide fluid pressure means for moving the various mold parts, characterized by the yielding eliect of such. operating means over anything mechanical, and by the variable stroke available to meet the varying conditions encountered.

Another object oi the invention is to provide core pulling devices which operate by iluid pressure means, characterized in that the core may be gradually extracted from the casting with comparative gentleness, especially at the start of the extracting operation, the fluid pressure operating means in practical e'l'l'eet feeling its way during the withdrawal of the core.

Another object oi the invention is the provision .oi fluid pressure means for et footing the closing of the discharge valve of the crucible. While such means may also be, and preferably is, utilized for open mg such valve, there 15 special utility in of the fluid pressure operating means, the valve may be made toclose very forcibly and driven into the discharge orifice with i a ram effect, which intensifies the pressure provision of valves to control the admission and exhaustion of the fluid under pressure to and from each cylinder. The exhaust and inlet valves are automatically operated from a common source and may thus be coordinated one with the other to secure a desirable cushion effect at the end of travel of the various elements oithe machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved shields for protecting the operator from possible injury by escaping molten metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receiver, preferably in the nature of a trough, which automatically moves in under the discharge nozzle of the crucible to receive the drip therefrom and convey it to a suitable receptacle and which enables the crucible 'to .be quickly emptied, when desired.

Another object is to provide upon the mold carrying bed various devices, which may be used for moving the mold parts, including the cores, and which are provided in flexible arrangements capable of being varied within wide limits to adapt the machine to widely varying types of molds.

the closing operation for, by proper control Another object of the invention is to proshield Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken on the line 4 1- of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation illustrative of the valve for the crucible;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the clutch mechanism units Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the clutch operating levers;

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged end and sec tional elevational views, respectively, of a typical valve unit;

Fig. 12 is a plan View taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of a typical fluid pressure actuating means;

Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional and elevational views, respectively, of a modification in the valve structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatical perspective view showing conventionally the various valves, fluid pressure cylinders and the connections therebetween;

Figs. 17 and 18 are fragmentary plan and cross-sectional views of the mold-carrying bed and adjacent parts. illustrating particularly the adaptation of the machine to one particular type of mold;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cam bar and its reciprocable operating rod;

Figs. 20 and 21 are views, taken generally similarly to Figs. 17 and 18. showing the adaptation of the machine to a second type of mold;

Fig. 22 is a sectional elevation illustrative of the controlling device for the mold clean ing means; and i Fig. 23 is a bottom plan view of the furnace casing illustrative of the nozzle cleaning means.

The general frame structure of the machine will first be described. A represents a suitable base plate to which are secured. in spaced parallel relation two upstanding side frames B. Such frames are tied together at their upper ends by a bridge-like member C, which has an integral upwardly extending hollow cylindrical portion D forming the casing of the furnace to be later described. On the inner face of each side frame B are upper and lower longitudinal flanges a and b which are arranged in spaced parallel relation and afford a horizontal channel a. Each of these channels is adapted to receive a lifting bar. to be later described. but such bar occupies only a por tion of channel 0, leaving a rear portion (right hand as viewed in Fig. 2) unoccupied. In the rear portion of channel 0 there is located a supporting frame E. which extends laterally across the side frames B. rests upon the lower flanges 7) and is suitably sccured thereto. Below frame l l are two other parallel frames F and (l, constituting supports for the upper and lower clutch mechanisms respectively. All three frames E. F, and G are suitably held together. as by the bolts (Z illustrated.

The furnace will next be described with particular reference to Figs. ,1. 4 and 0. Its shell is constituted by the hollow cylindrical portion D. just described. such shell having a refractory lining of suitable matcrial, such as an outer lining (a of a suitable refractory material sil-o-col and an inner lining f of fire brick (Fig. 6). The shell l) is capped by a cover 9. which, as well as the lined shell, affords a through opening to receive a crucible h for the reception of the fluid metal. The shell I) and its linings (z and f are provided with suitable openings '2'. preferably directed tangentially relatively to the crucible it. to receive burners such as are conventionally shown at j in F igs. 6 and 16. The burners j are provided with suitable supply pipes Zr and are supported by such pipes and suitable brackets from the bridge member 0 described. By the use of burners. located as described. the flames are caused to travel circunitcrcntially about the crucible 71 and thus a substantially uniform distribution of heat is insured. Suitable vent openings Z are provided through cover g and the lining j for the furnace. such opcuings communicating with the annular passage between crucible 71 and lining f.

The crucible l1. which receives the metal or other substance to be cast, is suspended from cover 9 within the furnace and has an out let or nozzle m at the lower end thereof. cover a is suitably secured to the top of crucible 71. to tightly close the otherwise open top thereof. A part of cover 21 (Figs. 2 and 4) is partitioned off to provide a chamber 0, which has conmuinication with the interior of the crucible only by way of long. arcuate and relatively narrow slots 1) located near the outer periphery of the cover. Leading radially into chamber 0 are diametrically disposed inlet and outlet pipes and r by means of which fluid under pressure. preferably compressed air. is admitted to and exhausted from the crucible 71 respectively. By admitting the compressed air into chamber 0, rather than directly into the crucible 7:. the lower wall of the chamber acts as a baflle, causes the air to spread out and be more uniformly distributed over the surface of the metal as it enters through slots p. More important still. the air entering through slots 7') is caused to impinge on the flaring upper part of crucible 11.. whereby it is deflected away from and prevented from directly impinging on the fluid therein. The

lllfl llll member 39, extends.

two on each, and the rolls 37 ride upon the upper walls of the channels 36, thus effectually holding the mold carrying bed to lifting bars 27 against relative vertical movement and yet permitting a relative horizontal movement.

Such movement of bed 38 is accomplished by fluid pressure means. Thus, on the outer side of each side frame B and near the top thereof, there is fixed a cylinder 41, arranged with its axis horizontally disposed. The piston rod 42 of each cylinder carries at its free end a bracket 43, the lower end of which slides in, and is guided by ways 44 formed in outwardly extending shelf-like portions of frame B (Figs. 17 and 18). The upper portion of bracket 43 has a vertical slot 45 (Fig. 1) into which the free end of a horizontal rod 46, fixed at its other end in a side The pin 46 and slot 45 permit the bed 38 to be lifted without interfering with the horizontal movement of the bed, The two cylinders 41 are, of course, connected for simultaneous operation (Fig. 16) and are capable of moving bed 38 to and fro beneath the nozzle m.

The bed 38 is not liftable except when brought into proper position beneath the nozzle. At all other positions of the bed, the engagement of the upper set of rolls 40 with the undersides of flanges a prevent vertical movement of the lifting bars. However, when the mold is properly positioned beneath the nozzle m, the rolls 40 are brought in line with notches 47 (Figs. 2 and 7 in flanges a which notches permit passage of such rolls and thus lifting of bars 27 and the mold-carrying bed supported thereby. The positioning of bed 38 for the above operation may be controlled in any suitable way, as for example, by the abutment of the pistons on rods 42 with the heads of cylinders 41.

Various devices are provided on the moldcarrying bed 38 for moving the mold parts to separate them after the casting operation and to close them after the casting has been extracted and subsequent to the pouring operation. In general, these same, or analogous, devices may be also used for the extraction and insertion of cores, and the term mold parts or mold sections is to be understood to cover either cores or strict mold parts, such as cope, drag and jaws. The devices referred to are of two general types, viz, those actuated by fluid pressure means, and those actuated mechanically as by cams or the like.

To illustrate the first-named type, there has been shown on the mold-carrying bed 38 a single cylinder 50. Obviously, other similar cylinders may be provided, as many as are necessary for the particular kind of work to be performed. However, to make each cylinder as useful as possible under various conditions, and particularly to permit the one cylinder to be used for moving mold parts proper, as the cope and so forth, or for pulling heavy cores, the cylinder is so constructed that it may be readily reversed. Thus, the closed end and the piston rod receiving end of cylinder 50 are made of such size that either will lit within a vertical hole 51 in bed 38 and intermediate such end is a. flange 52, somewhat larger in diameter, which is adapted to be secured, as by bolting, to the lower face of bed 88. Cylinder 50 is of the double-acting type and fluid, such as compressed air for example, may be admitted to and exhausted from each end of the cylinder by means later to be described.

As shown in Figs. 16. 20 and 21, the piston rod 53 for cylinder 50 extends downwardly, and, when so arranged, carries at its lower end yoke 54 which extends latorally-from both sides of the rod 53 a. sullicient distance to clear cylinder 50. Rods 55 secured to the ends of yoke 54 extend upwardly through the bed 38 and such rods are utilized for the actuation of the mold parts. The rods 55 may, of course, be connected in any desired way to any part which requires to be moved. They may be used for moving cores or various parts of the mold proper. As an illustrative exau'iple of one way in which the rods may be used, reference is made to Figs. 20 and 21. Here, the upper ends of rods are com'iected together by a yoke 56, intermediate the ends of which is secured the cope 57 of the mold M. Thus, on admiSSiOn of fluid to the lower end of cylinder 50, the cope 57 will be li fted. as shown in Fig. 21, to permit extraction of the casting X. In this connection, thi abutment of a collar 58 on red 53 with the lower end of cylinder 50 functions as a stop to arrest the lifting of the cope 57 in the desired position.

Generally, when the cylinder 50 is reversed from the position just described. the yoke 54 will not be found necessary and may be omitted. Particularly, when the cylinder 50 is utilized for pulling heavy cores downwardly, the yoke is unnecessary for the rod 58 can then be directly connected to the core, as that shown at Y in Fig. 18. Here again, a positive stop for the core Y is pro vided, for, when in extracted position, it abuts the top of cylinder 50 and. when in inserted position, the flange 58 on the core abuts a shoulder 59 provided on the jaws J of the mold.

The mechanically-operated devices on bed 38 will next be described. These devices depend for their actuation on cams. which. in this instance. are stationary. the followers being carried by the movable bed 38. As shown, the cams consist of rectangular bars 60 (Fig. 2) which may be bent up in various forms to secure the desired degree of throw llltl and to control the relative time of actuation and the rapidity thereof. Elince various conditions are encountered and. it is unlikely that one style of camv bar will meet all conditions, the cam bars are mounted for convenient removal. The cam bars are also mounted for adjustment and both these results are effected in the following manner. Corresponding: ends ot the two lifting bars 27 are connected together by a cross-bar 61 (l l2 and 7). which has. adjacent each littinn; bar, a slotted depending member Preterably, at least, twovertical slots are provided in. each member 652 whereby :tour cam bars may be supported, two along; each edge of bed 36. The members 62 are each provided with. a series of vertically spaced horizontal holes 63 and each cam bar has at each end a hole for registratii'in with any oi? the holes 63. The cam bars are held in the slots of members 62' by passing pins or through the holes and the registering holes in the cam bars. Thus, the cam bars are readily removed and replaced. They may also be raised and lowered for adjust ment. An important teature ot the mount ing of the cam bars is that they are carried by the litting bars 27. Thus, they do not move longitudinally with the bed 38, but they do move vertically with bed 38 so that the vertical lji'lt otthe latter does not cause an actuation otthe cam followers to be described and the possible opening of the mold or the pulling ot a core at the time when the mold is clamped against the nozzle of the crucible for pouring.

The cam followers consist of blocks' 65 19) each having); a slot 66 therethrough and upper and lower rolls 67 mounted to turn in each slot. Each pair of rolls67 is so spaced as to closely receive between them a cam bar 60, the upper and lower rolls 67 riding: on the upper and lower edges of the cam bar 60. Thus, the motion of the cam :tolloweris positive in both directions. The part connected to the cam follower block 65 may be made to suit the purposes in hand. Such part may be a plain rod, as shown at 68 in 2 and 19. The upper ends of such rods be connected, similarly to the describedrods 55. to move a mold part/or a core" The part, reterred to, may also consist ot a rack. as shown at 69 in Fig. 18. In either case the racks 69 or rods 66 pass vertically upwards throup h suitable holes provided in bed or more strictly through the side members Although such holes afford guides for the cam followers, it is preferred to provide additional guides which will positively hold the rods and racks against turning. To this end, the bed is provided with pairs of depending guides 70 (Figs. 9. 16 and 521i, one pair For each cam tollower. Generally. it is desirable to provide for two cam followers on each cam bar 60, although, if only one is necessary, the other may readily be omitted. Theretlore, one pair of guides is provided at each end of bed 38 for each cam bar. Each guide T0 is slotted, at 71, (l? 18 and 21) to receive the cam bar.

For vertical motion, the plain rods 68 may be used and directly connected to the partto be moved. l Vhen motion in another di rcction, as horizontal, is required, the racks 69 are used and devices are provided to con vcrt the vertical movement of the racks into movement in the desired direction. The racks 69 generally pass upwardly completely through the side members 39 and the plain rods66 between such meinbe and the mold, although obviously they may be otherwise arranged. The members 39 are accordingly each provided with two longitudinally spaced holes 72 for the reception of racks 69 and the bed. 38 with two longitudinally spaced holes 73 on each side for the reception of the plain rods (Fig. 7). The members 39 are each provided with a through, longitudinally disposed, horizontal hole for the reception of one or more pinions 74;, the outer ends of which are preferably squared, as indicated, for the reception ot a wrench whereby the pinions may be manually turned.

When. only a single rack 69 is required, only one pinion 74L is employed, and this one may extend from end to end (it its mem-- be]? 39 as shown in Fig. 20. Frequently, two independent horizontal motions are nec essary on each side of the mold, as with the mold shownin 17 and 18, wherein the aws ll must be spread and the cores .li. extracted. Good practice requires that cores K. be extracted at a diiierent time than that when jaws J are opened. Consequently, two independent devices are necessary and in such cases, two raclrs 69 are used and two pinions are provided in the same hole in member 89, as clearly indicated in Fig. 17. Thus, the lower rack 69 meshes merely withv the lower short pinion 7 1- while the upper rack 69 meshes with a considerably longer pinion 74. Provision is made for the re ception of three horizontal racks 75 in each member 39. Thus, the upper two racks 75, shown in Fig. 17, may mesh with the long pinion 74L while the other meshes with the short pinion. This allows the lower rack 75 to be used for moving: cores it while the upper two racks 75 are connected together and to jaws (I by a bar 76. When two racks 69 are used on each side ct bed 38, two. cam bars 60 are generally required and, since these necessarily lie in, different vertical planes, while the two racks lie in the same vertical. plane, the tollower 65 may have a lurr 76 formed on its side 18 and 19) which permits the. rack to be ol'lset intothe plane of holes 72.

With the mold shown in Figs. 17 and 18, the two cores K may be moved simultaneously and the two jaws J may be moved simultaneously. It sometimes happens that the two cores should be pulled at different times and this can readily be cared for by using different cam bars on each side of the machine. Thus, with the mold shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the large core L is pulled first by one rack 75 while the other is pulled at a later time by the opposite rack 75, each rack being operated by an independent cam bar 60.

Various other combinations may be obtained and many other examples of the use of the fluid-operated and mechanically-operated devices for the movement of mold parts (whether cores or mold parts in the strict sense, as cope, jaws and so forth) might be given, but the two examples described will serve to illustrate the flexibility of the machine within wide limits to meet varying conditions.

In connection with the core pulling de vices, whether operated by mechanical or fluid pressure means, I provide means for positively positioning the cores in the dcsired position in the mold. This feature has been pointed out in connection with the core Y of the mold shown in Fig. 18, but it should be noted that the cores K and N are positioned in the mold by abutment of their racks with the outer face of their molds while with the core L a flange 77 is provided 'for a like purpose. The feature of positioning the cores accurately in their moldsis, of course, most important where the coresv are operated by fluid pressure means.

The choice of which of the two described core-operating means are used will depend on the conditions of each case. With large cores, which are rather diflicult to pull, the fluid pressure means will generally be employed, due sometimes to the greater power available and sometimes to the character of the core, which may be such as to especially require the yielding character of pull and the variable stroke, not available with the mechanically-operated means. The time when the core is to be pulled will frequently control the choice of the core pulling means. The mechanically-operated means must effect the pulling of the core during the travel of the bed from moldfilling position to the position where the cast articles are extracted. If it is not feasible to pull the core during this interval, the fluid pressure-operated means will be chosen for they operate at any time desired and independently of the movement of the mold-carrying bed.

Shields are provided at both ends of the mold-carrying bed when it is in position for the emission of metal from the nozzle m. One shield (the rear one as shown in Fig.

2) is of the swinging type and consists ol a suitably shaped flat sheet 78 which is pivoted at 79 to lugs on the described frame l Shield 78 is movable from the full line to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. Movement of shield 78 is effected by abutment with the mold carrying bed 58 when the latter moves to position the mold beneath the nozzle m. lVhen the bed 38 moves ha. l; toward the illustrated position, the shield T8 drops by gravity until it is arrested by abutment with the cross-bar described. The latter causes the shield to come to rest in such position that the upper end of a trough 8O thereon is broughtinv under the nozzle m to catch any drippings of metal therefrom, The trough 80 is secured. to shield 78 in, downwardly inclined position and has an outlet 81 at one side of the machine (and yet inside of frame B) from which the drippings fall into a suitable receptacle. such as a crucible (not shown) which may be placed. on bed A. The trough 80 also a ll'ords a corvenient means of emptying the crucible 7:.

The front shield is of the reciprocatin; type and lifts vertically although it is relerably also pivoted for reasons to appear. The front shield is shown at 82 in Figs. 1 and 2, and as shown, has flanges 8 prclcrably curved as shown, on all tour sidcs. The shield 82 is pivoted at 84*. at its upper en'- ners to the upper ends of two latcrally spaced rods 85 which extend vertically downward and are slidably mounted in frames 13. Cylinders 86 are also suitably supported on the side frames B with their piston rods 86 depending therefrom (Fig. l). The lower end of each piston rod is connected to the lower end of the adja ent rod 85 by a bar 85. The shield 82 is normally held in lifted position. as shown. but is arranged to be lowered utter the mold has been moved in under nozzle m for the pouring operation. The use of the flanges 83 is important as preventing any metal thrown against the shield from spitti g out along the edges of the shield as would occur if the shield were flat and the flanges oiuitted. With the curved flanges. metal striking the shield shoots therealong until it strikes the curved flanges which direct it inwardly away from the operator. The use or" a shield reciprocable in a straight line path is important as eliminating the powcrl'ul fan effect incident to the use of a swiwgiug shield. No powerful gusts of air are thrown into the face of the operator when the shield 82 moves up or down. The adrautagrcs ol the swinging shield are. however. rctaincd by pivoting it to its operating rods Thus, the shield can be manually drawn back even when lowered to permit the operator to take a last peep at the mold. when necessary. Also the shield i: yieldable it obstructions are encountered. For example,

llill preferably, a manually operable valve 130 is interposed therein to shut off or regulate the admission of fluid to chamber 127. A valve disk 132, having a stem 133 slidably mounted in the valve body, normally prevents communication between the chambers 127 and 128 but when disk 132 is moved downwardly communication is established by means of recesses 131. The valve body is recessed. at its upper end to receive a rectangular block 134 which is fixed to stem 133 and a spring 135 acting between the block and body normally holds disk 132 in closed position. Suitable packing is provided for stem 133, as indicated at 136, the spring 135 serving to compress such packing about stem 133 through the intermediary of a gland 137. The block 134 carries a roll 138 for engagement with the periphery of a cam 139 fixed on a shaft 140 which is suitably mounted on frame B and extends from end to end thereof, overlying all of the described inlet valves. Each of these valves has a separate cam on the shaft 140, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. A similar shaft 141 overlies all the exhaust valves, as clearly indicated in Fig. 18 and it is to be understood that on shaft 141 there is a separate cam for each valve, as indicated by the cam 142 for valve 105 in Fig. 18. The two shafts 140 and 141 are driven by bevel gearing, as indicated inFigs. 1 and 7, from a common drive shaft 143, which is suitably mounted in and extends between the side frames B and is driven in a manner to be described.

Each of the described cams, as 139, has a smooth finished periphery, which is of such diameter that when the roll, as 138, rides upon it the valve disk, as 132, is in open position, and also has a cut-away portion, as 144 (Fig. which will permit the valve disk to seat itself. Each cam, whether inlet or exhaust, is suitably contoured to effect the opening and closing of its valve at the desired time and to maintain the valve opened or closed for the desired intervals to coordinate the various automatic operations so that they occur in the proper timed relation to be described.

It has been pointed out that it is not necessary to arrange the inlet and exhaust valves in the manner described. Since the shafts 140 and 141 turn in unison, they are, in practical effect, the equivalent of one shaft and any valve may be arranged at any desired point on either shaft. As a matter of fact, each pair of inlet and exhaust valves may be combined and considerable piping eliminated thereby.

The modification just referred to is shown in Figs. 14 and and will now be described. The valve there shown may be considered as taking the place of the valves 99 and 108, which control the lowering of the metal valve t. Such valve comprises a single body 145, which, instead of being fastened directly to frame B, is secured to an intake manifold 146, which in turn is secured to frame B. Mounted to slide vertically in the body 145 are two spaced valve iassa 'e 151 therethrou h. which when the 7 valve is positioned as shown. registers with, and connects, two passages 152 and 153 provided in the body. The passage 1.52 is connected directly to manifold 146 by a past-sage 154. The passage 153 communicates at all times with an admission chamber 155 in the body, such chamber having an annular exit 156 around the stem 147 and being closable by an inlet valve 157 thereon. An exit chamber 158 is provided in the body below an exhaust valve 159 and such chamber at all times communicates with the annular exit 156 by means of a passage 160. A passage 161 leads from the exitchamber 158 to a single pipe, as 162, which in this instance leads to the upper end of cylinder 26. The exhaust valve 159 normally closes off communication between the chamber 158 and an annular passage 163, which at all times communicates with a chamber 164. From the latter, a passage 165 leads to a recess 166 in body 145 and thus to the atmosphere.

The valves 157 and 158 are mounted in a manner similar to that described and are yieldingly held in closed position. The valves 157 and 159 are also opened by cams, as 167 and 168 respectively, on one of the cam shafts, as 140. Instead of directly operating the valves from their cams, an intermediate element, a rocker arm 169, is provided, which is pivoted at one end and rests at its outer end on the top of the valve stem, and carries a roll 170 for engagement with the cam. Each rocker arm, as 169. has a plug 171 on its outer end to receive the socket of a suitable lever, whereby the operator may manually open any of the valves, if desired, independently of the automatic mechanism.

The automatic mechanism for driving the shaft 143, together with the controlling de vices for such mechanism, will next be described with particular reference to Figs. 2 and 9. The source of power may be chosen as desired, but, for illustrative purposes, will be considered as an electric motor 173, which is suitably supported from bed A and underlies the frames F and G, already described. The frame G supports a longitudinally disposed shaft 174 and one end of this shaft is connected to motor 173 by gears 175, the ratio of the gears being such as to drive shaft 174 at a much slower speed than that of the motor. Upon such end of shaft 174,

there is mounted for free rotation thereon a gear 176 and fixed thereto is a clutch element 177, adapted to engage with a mating clutch element 17 8,which is slidably keyed to shaft 174, whereby gear 17 6 may be driven from the latter. The frame F likewise suphas fixed thereto a worm 183, which meshes with, and drives, a worm gear 18 1 fixed on the described shaft 143. It will thus be seen that the cam shafts 140 and 1 11 may be driven continuously by the motor 17 8 when both sets of clutch elements 177, 178, and

181, 182 are engaged, although at considerably reduced speed.

1t will be also seen that the machine may be disconnected from its source of power in two places. One clutch, comprising the elements 177 and 178, is used particularly for starting and stopping the machine manually, as in emergencies. The other clutch, comprising the elements 181 and 182, is used for automatically stopping the machine at the end. of each complete cycle of operation and stops the machine always at a predetormined point in the cycle. Provision is made for manually preventing the automatic stopping of the machine, however, so that a series of successive cycles may be accomplished without interruption, when desired.

The controlling mechanism for the automatic clutch 181, 182 will first be described.

The clutch element 182 is circumferentially grooved to receive the forked end of a clutch shifter 1.85, the other end of which is fixed to a rod 188. The latter is slidably mounted in frame F for reciprocation in a direction parallel to shaft 179 and is normally held in the illustrated position by a spring 187 to disengage elements 181 and 182. Mounted transversely in the frame l is fixed an upstanding lever 189 adapted to abut the inner end of rod 185 andv cause the engage ment of elements 181 and 182. Fixed on the outer end of shaft 188 is an upstanding lever 190 upon the end of which is a roll. (F 2 and 7) to engage the periphery of a master earn 191. fixed on shaft 141-8. This cam 191. is merely a circular disk which has a single recess in its periphery to receive the roll on lever 190 and permit the latter to be moved to such position that the clutch elements 181 and 182 are disengaged. At all other points, I11 its periphery, the cam holds lever 190 n such pos1t1on that the 1 clutch elements 181 and 182 are engaged.

To manually engage the clutch elements and thereby release the machine for automatic operation after it has been stopped by cam 1.91, a link 192 is connected to lever 190 intermediate its ends and extends forwardly of the machine for connection to the upper end of a lever 193 (Fig. 2). V

The other clutch, 177, 178, is similarly grooved to receive the forked end of a clutch shifter 194 (Figs. 2 and 8), which is fixed to a rod 195, slidably mounted in frame G and normally held in retracted position by a spring 196. Mounted in frame F above the described cross shaft 188 is a similar shaft 197, to which is fixed depending lever 198. The lower end of lever 198 en gages the inner end of rod 195 to slide the latter against the force of spring 196. (in the outer end of shaft 197 is a lever 199 and a link 200 (Fig. 8) connects this lever to a second lever, similar to lever 193, but fixed to the pivot 201 (Fig. 1). On this same pivot, a second lever 202 is fixed which is located outside the adjacent side frame B in a position for convenient access. Lever 202 carries a pivoted latch arm 203 which, when lever 202 is moved forwardly (to the left) from the position shown in Fig. 1, will catch against the shoulder 204: on frame B and hold lever 202 in such position that the clutch elements 177 and 178 are engaged. By lifting latch 208 to free it from shoulder 204, the lever 202 will be released and the clutch elements 177 and 178 again engaged.

Connections have been described for man ually engaging the clutch 181 and 182 after they have been disengaged by the operation of the master cam 191. These connections were traced to a lever 1.93 shown in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the lever 198 is fixed to a pivot 205 and that on the outer end of this pivot there is a suitable operating lever, like the lever 202, which may be latched in position in a similar manner to hold the elements 181 and 182 engaged. When such operating lever is not latched. the machine automatically stops at the end of one revolution of the cam shafts 14:0 and 1 11 and thus after the completion of one cycle of operation. If several successive cycles of operation are desired, the operating lever is latched, but where the machine is operated with intervals between successive cycles, such lever is not latched. The lever then is merely used to hold the clutch elements 181 and 182 engaged until the cam 184: can come into play to hold them.

The lever 202 is used when it is desired to stop the machine at any other point than at the end of a cycle of operation. it is also used in emergenciesand at all other times when the automatic stop not capable of fulfilling thedesired requirements.

Preferably, and as desirable adjunct of the machine, 1 provide means for autobottom of casing D. Springs 211 normally hold such blade in the illustrated position wherein itabuts a stop 212. An upstanding pin 213'secured to bed 38 (Figs. 2 and 7) is arranged to engage the rear end of blade 210,. as indicated in Fig. 23, and to move it sufliciently to carry the forward, slightly upturned edge across the face of nozzle m toclean it. The blade 210 moves a su'fiicient distance tobring a hole 214 therein in con centrical relation with the nozzle so that the upper end of the mold may pass through hole 214 and be clamped against the nozzle.

Preferably, also, means are provided for automatically cleaning the mold after the casting has been extracted. Thus, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 21, a perforated pipe 216 is arranged on each side wall 39 of the mold carrying bed. The pipes 216 are so located that jets of fluid under pressure emitted therefrom may impinge on and clean the interior surfaces of the mold sections, as best shown in Fig. 21. It will readily be apparent that these jets of fluid may be also utilized for the purpose of cooling, the molds. For controlling the operation of the mold cleaning means, a selfclosing valve (Fig. 22) is provided in the front cross bar 01. Thus, an inlet chamber 217 is provided which is. connected by a pipe 218 to a suitable source of fluid. under pressure, as for example, the manifold 108. An exit chant her 219 is also provided which connects by a flexible pipe 220 with the pipes 216. A valve 221 normally closes off communication between the chambers 217 and 219 by reason of a spring 222 acting against a collar on the stem 224 of the valve. Stem 224 is arranged to be engaged by the bed 2), as the latter comes to rest in the illus trated position, and moved to open valve 221, whereby the ets of fluid under press are emitted to clean the mold sections durn g the interval of rest of the carrier in its outer position.

The operation of the machinewill now be described. Assuming that a mold like that shown in Figs. 20 and 21 is provided on bed A and that the casting X has been extracted, the operator would start the machine by pulling forwardly the operating lever on shaft 205, it being assumed that the other lever 202 has already been latched in its forward position. The clutch 181, 182 is held closed until the end of the cycle, by the cam 191. The machine having been started, the various operations are all accomplished automatically.

First, the bed 38 will be carried in\\ardly by the cylinders -11, which are supplied with fluid under pressure by the opening of valve 97, the exhaust valve 106 being closed and the exhaust valve 111 being open. As the bed approaches the end of its inward stroke, the exhaust valve 106 commences to close and thereby the bed may be gradually brought to rest with a dashpot ellect. The same general result may be accomplished in other ways, as for example, by cutting oh the fluid admitted to cylinder 11 through valve 97 by closing the latter before the end of the stroke, allowing the [laid to ex pand, and near the end of the stroke opcit ing of the exhaust valve 100 slightly.

During the inward travel of bed 08. the rack bars 09 are actuated by the cam bars (30 to replace the cores L and N. According to the shape of the cam bars, these two cores may be replaced at substantially the. same time or either may be replaced before the other, as desired. The particular results desired in any given case will, of course. vary and the cam bars may be varied to suit the conditions. .llefore the ends of the inward stroke of bed 238, the cope 51" is replaced, and the time of replacement may vary as desired since it is eli'ccted by fluid pressure means. It may occur before or after the replacement cores L and N accord ing to the setting of the cam for alve 100. Valve 100 first opens to admit fluid under pressure to the upper end of cylinder 50 while the exhaust valve 101 is open. A.

cushioning of the cope as it moves into place against the mold may be obtained y partially closing the exhaust valve 101 an already described. The fluid pressure should however, be maintained in the upper end of cylinder 50 to hold the cope lightly clamped against the mold until aft r the pouring operation.

The mold parts having been assembled and the bed 38 moved inwardly. all of which operations occur in. close sequence, a second series of o 'ierations ensue. First, the lifting bars 27 start to rise to clamp the mold against nozzle on. This is accomplislual by the cylinder under the control of valve 96. the exhaust valve 105 being (fl rted and valve 96 is arranged to maintain prs.--urc during the pouring operation to hold the mold tightly clamped against the nozzle. As the last described operation takes place. the valve 101 opens to admit fluid in crucible 7i and remains open until the valve 1 has been opened for the pouring operation and 

